In the above sketch of the progress of scientific research into
the terremare I have selected four typical examples for special
description. We have seen that in one, viz. Montale, accumulated
_débris_ stood as a clear mound on the surface of the surrounding
plain, while that of Gorzano rested on a natural hillock. The Castione
deposits also assumed the same form, but in this case the mound was
only partially above the plain, the rest being buried in it. The tops
of the piles found in its peaty stratum (_terra uliginosa_) were
on an average 3 feet below the level of the present surface of the
surrounding plain, and the lowest portion of this bed was a couple
of feet still lower. In the fourth example, Casale Zaffanella, there
was no mound at all visible, but on examination the remains of the
settlement were found to be precisely similar to those of the others,
only the mound was completely buried, as it were, in a sea of hardened
mud.
The explanation of this will be readily perceived when we remember
that the amount of submergence respectively shown in these instances
is in the inverse ratio to their distance from the lower parts of the
plain and its great water channels. The yearly inundations of the Po
and its tributaries extend far and wide, each time leaving a film of
mud, by the repetition of which, in the course of ages, the surface
of the plain has become considerably elevated. Thus, the increase of
silt since the terramara settlement of Casale Zaffanella was founded,
amounts to 12½ feet--a depth sufficient to cover the highest part of
the mound. It is difficult to say how much this levelling up process
is accountable for the scarcity of these stations in the lower parts
of the Po valley. That they existed, however, in close proximity to
the river is amply proved by those stations at Viadana, as well
as one or two others, for example, at Brescello, in the Parmensian
district, on the south side of the river.
_Distribution._--Formerly the terramara deposits were supposed to be
peculiar to the middle reaches of Parma, Reggio, and Modena; but later
discoveries have upset this generalisation, as they are now shown to
have a much wider distribution, embracing the provinces on both sides
of the Po. (See Sketch Map, page 266.)
[Illustration: _Distribution of_ LAKE DWELLINGS & TERRAMARE _in the_
PO VALLEY]
Dr. Giacometti first (1868) directed attention to the terramara
deposits in the province of Mantua, and showed their similarity to
those of Emilia. A few miles north-east of the town of Mantua there
was found a group of seven or eight stations, regarding one of which,
Bigarello, he stated that it contained the same kind of pottery and
the same forms of stone implements as that at Castelnuovo in Emilia,
the only difference being in the kind of stone used, the one being
taken from the _débris_ of the Alps and the other from the Apennines.
Among the fragments of pottery he drew particular attention to the
variety of handles, which showed all the transitional forms from
knobs up to the most elegant _anse lunate_. "Havvene," says he,
"_di bicornute_, _di lunate_, _di bitubercolate_, _bilanceolate_,
_cincinnate_, _transverse_, _appendiculate_, ecc., quasi tutta in
somma, la famiglia designata dal Mortillet ('Les Terramares du
Reggianais,' 1865), colla speciale caratteristica di anse lunate."
In 1874 Marinoni gave an interesting account of the prehistoric
remains of the district of Seniga in the province of Brescia,
especially those of the terremare at Chiavichetto and Gottolengo. (B.
265.) The former, which is the most interesting of a group of seven
stations, is situated in the angle formed by the junction of the Mella
with the Oglia, nearly 20 miles south of the town of Brescia. In
excavating soil for making a dyke the workmen found objects of human
industry--scrapers and saws of flint, three hatchets of serpentine,
one large stone-adze, various stone rubbers, etc., several fragments
of worked horn, and an extraordinary quantity of broken pottery. The
further objects discovered here were chiefly of stone, rarely of
bronze, and, according to Marinoni, they were very similar to those
from the terramara stations of Bigarello and Pomella to the east of
Mantua.
The station at Gottolengo, discovered in 1871, is situated five miles
to the north of Regona, and on the left bank of the Mella. Before
being disturbed it presented the form of a flattish mound, which on
examination yielded relics similar to those of the other well-known
terremare, of which the following may be mentioned:--
Upwards of 20 arrow-points--pedunculated, triangular, or heart-shaped.
Some fragments of polished hatchets of serpentine; spindle-whorls
of terra-cotta (=Fig. 86=, No. 17):--one very large, 4¾ inches in
diameter (No. 28), was similar to another found at Chiavichetto.
Broken bones, portions of deer-horns, some of which · were made into
daggers and pointers; two bone combs ornamented with triangular lines
and _graffitti_, similar to those from Castione and Noceto. An oval
cake or ring of wood like the supports for vases (No. 25). Of bronze
there were various tools and implements. Spear-heads with a tang
were most common; No. 19 represents one with two rivet-holes, a type
which was also represented at Chiavichetto. A double-edged implement
still held the rivet which had fixed it to a handle (No. 22). One
arrow-point (No. 23) is similar to one found in the terramara station
at Campeggine in the province of Parma. Several fragments of pins,
wires, spirals, and small plates of bronze. Among iron objects, all
of which were much corroded, was a spear-head (No. 24). Portions of
greenish vitreous paste.
[Illustration: =Fig. 86.=--VIADANA and stations on the north side of
the Po. No. 3 = ¼, 28 = ⅓ and the rest = ½ real size.]
The following animals were identified among the osseous
remains:--stag, ox, goat, sheep, horse, and pig.
Not only as regards the relics but also in internal structure the
terramara stations on the north of the Po have been shown to be
identical with those on the south side. This we have already seen
in the description of Casale Zaffanella. But the point was first
established by the indefatigable researches of Chierici, who, in
1881, along with a few other antiquaries, explored the stations at
Bellanda and Villa Cappella in the commune of Gazzoldo, about 10
miles west of Mantua. Here all the characteristic features of the
terremare--the surrounding dyke, palafitte, and orientation--were
clearly established. (B. 372a.)
The best investigated terramara in the Bologna district is that at
Castellaccio, about three-quarters of a mile to the south of Imola.
(B. 457.) The deposits repose on an isolated elevation on the right
bank of the river Santerno, and rising nearly 120 feet above its bed;
but on it there are no remains of ancient stone buildings, as the
name would seem to imply. The hill is of yellowish sand, belonging
to the Upper Pliocene. Scarabelli, who has recently published an
illustrated monograph of its peculiarities and the antiquities found
on it, states that piles were numerous, though many had disappeared by
decomposition, only traces of their holes being then detected. Some of
the piles were large, measuring over a foot in diameter, and they were
placed irregularly. No less than 26 hearths were met with at different
levels, and those on the same level were from 4 to 6½ mètres apart.
The peculiarity of this terramara is that its antiquities would appear
to belong to both the Stone and Bronze Ages. The flint implements
included about 20 roughly-chipped tools like scrapers, some badly-made
arrow-points, and saws resembling those found in the palafittes in the
Mincio. Altogether 216 worked flints and about 600 chips and cores
were collected. Some polished stone axes, together with four portions
of perforated implements.
Among about 120 spindle-whorls of burnt clay there was only one
ornamented. There were various implements of staghorn and bone, a
few of the former being perforated and apparently used as axe and
hammer heads like those from Gorzano. Some perforated shells are also
recorded.
The pottery was precisely similar to that usually found on the
well-known terramara deposits of Emilia, showing various forms of
handles, horn-like projections, perforated knobs, etc.
The total number of bronze articles amounted only to seven pieces,
and included a small sickle, a coltello-ascia like that from Bosisio
(=Fig. 51=, No. 10), and a small dagger with two rivets--the rest
being of an undetermined character. Two objects of _pietra ollare_
(a small spindle-whorl and a dish turned on the wheel) and a bronze
buckle were found among the disturbed beds on the surface.
Beyond the valley of the Po no decided remains of palafittes or
terremare have come to light, and the obscure indications that have
been recorded leave it doubtful whether they are of a prehistoric
character.[41] Of these the only one worthy of detailed notice here
is the dwelling found near Offida, in the Piceno district (Central
Italy), and described by Professor Pigorini. (B. 343b.)
About one and a half miles from Offida, in a small valley surrounded
by hills, there was formerly a small lake, which has become drained by
the erosion of a stream which falls into the Tresino. Here, covered
with 16 feet of sand and _débris_, the Marquis Allevi found a platform
50 yards long, 15 yards wide, and 2 feet thick. Below the platform
there was lake-mud, containing fresh-water shells, to the depth of 9½
feet, in which were charcoal, bones of animals, fragments of pottery,
and other remains of human occupancy. This platform was constructed
of large trunks deprived of their branches and laid horizontally
at intervals of about four feet, above which came smaller beams
irregularly laid without any order and then a layer of clay and moss.
On this platform were found calcined round stones, the bottom of a
dish, and some 12 fragments of other vessels, some of fine and some of
coarse pottery. One bit had a recurved lip, and another was ornamented
with a kind of zig-zag ornamentation in incised lines. There were also
about 20 pieces of copper, some of which looked like crucibles.
_Extent._--As to the actual dimensions of the terramara mounds, it
is difficult to procure accurate measurements, for several reasons.
In many instances they are either built over by modern buildings, or
there is nothing to distinguish their _débris_ from the surrounding
soil without making extensive excavations. Even when the site is a
clearly-defined mound, as at Montale, one estimate may differ from
another according as the area of the surrounding dyke is or is not
included in the measurements. Generally speaking they are rectangular
in form and, according to Chierici, their average superficial area is
about seven acres. (B. 311, p. 105.) But their respective areas vary
very much, as will be seen from the following stations, in addition
to those already given, whose measurements have been accurately
ascertained by competent authorities:--